Camping in infield at Michigan International Speedway

Ralph Cramden wrote:
Its a lot easier getting in and out than it used to be. In the early / mid 90's into the early 2000's just getting a grandstand ticket to MIS was a tough nut. Now days, they pan the cameras down so they don't show the empty seats on TV. NASCAR ruined themselves.

If you want the maximum effect of infield camping.....and the all night party that goes with it, Talladega wins the prize IMO.

I agree. Been going to the August race since 1991. (Stopped going 2 years ago) back when it was a hard ticket to get and every seat was full. Now its almost sad at how empty the place is and that's after they ripped out a ton of seats and sent them to Watkins Glen.

jimx200 wrote:
****, this sounds like camping hell.

Its a NASCAR race, the best camping I have ever done. Made a ton of friends over the years. its my once a year trip I dont have to worry about quiet times and walking on egg shells around park rangers.

Its not for everyone.

jimx200 wrote:
****, this sounds like camping hell.

You're not there to camp, you're there to watch the race and the people, and drink beer and eat grill food. The camper is just a place to sleep and get out of the heat.

Its a lot easier getting in and out than it used to be. In the early / mid 90's into the early 2000's just getting a grandstand ticket to MIS was a tough nut. Now days, they pan the cameras down so they don't show the empty seats on TV. NASCAR ruined themselves.

If you want the maximum effect of infield camping.....and the all night party that goes with it, Talladega wins the prize IMO.

****, this sounds like camping hell.

We used to go to the August race for years. Quit going in 2012. It's a fun time.

Get to the line up as early as you can. We used to get there a day early and spend the night in the line up. If you get there too late your following in the herd, and it can get congested inside, making parking in your spot difficult. Get there early, get in early and park and set up no hassle.

Bring plenty of gas for your genny. We used a 3500 watt champion and we carried 15 gallons, plus 4 in genny. It can get hot there, and since we had kids, we ran genny from 8 am to quiet hours at 10 for ac.

There is a small convenience store in the infield, but as your a captive audience it's pricey. Bring everything you think you need for the four days your in the infield, plus one in case it rains and they run the race Monday. Beer. More beer, and more beer. You can't drive out once your in there, even if you have an emergency at home. You'll be there the full weekend until the race is over. We used to spend the night post race, and left early next morning. Traffic leaving after the race will take longer than 8 hours post race just to to get out of the track. They won't allow infield to leave until at least 4 hours post race.

Water. Plenty of water. You'll get dehydrated there fairly easily.

Depending on your holding tanks, they have honey wagons that drive around pumping tanks constantly.

If you don't have a platform on top of your rv, make friends with your neighbors. They'll invite you up on theirs. You can rent the scanners with headphones to listen to the drivers. Highly recommended.

Bring a pop up canopy to sit under and people watch. Plenty of sights to see, and odd people doing odd things. Bring more beer, best way to make a buddy is hand some out to thirsty passer by. Hand some out, get some in return on your walks around the infield. When my wife and I went we carried up to 10 cases of beer with us. Drink less than half, make friends with the other half.

Don't get involved in the drama, the fights, or the drunks. And there's plenty of it there. Security will not hesitate to evict you from the track if you get caught up in it. If you have room bring bikes, you can walk miles to see just half the infield. Walk out the main grandstand gates Saturday and check out the venders outside the track,

Most of all relax and have fun.

STBRetired wrote:
Don't plan on getting much sleep.

Just watch the race without earplugs, and the nighttime noise won't keep you up.

I hate climbing down from my TT roof for more cold beer and then back up. Is that what you mean, KC. Hate it!

Do you have a viewing platform on the roof of your rig?
And headgear with 2 PBRs direct plumbed to a mouthpiece?;) :B

Gee...sounds fun.